Nigeria’s ICPC Chair Praises President Tinubu’s Actions Against Corruption

Nigeria's Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) chairman Musa Aliyu praised President Bola Tinubu for not protecting the corrupt people in the country and instead fighting against them.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) responded to multiple questions, including what if Tinubu asked him to stay away from any corruption case. Tinubu appointed Aliyu as the new chairperson in October last year.

In response, the chairman said that the president's actions in the last 72 hours made it clear that nobody will be exempt from consequences under his administration, hinting at Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, who got suspended Monday over allegations of a N585.2 million fraud.

Edu has been accused of ordering the transfer of the above amount into the private account of a civil servant, the accountant in charge of grants for vulnerable Nigerians.

Aliyu vowed to appear in court to defend anti-corruption cases that involve the commission, saying, "I'll lead by example. By the grace of God, I intend to be appearing in cases of ICPC (in court). I don't think there was ever a chairman of ICPC who appeared in court, but I'll be the first," Punch reported.

"I am deeply committed to realizing a vision for Nigeria where the principles of integrity, accountability, and transparency are not mere ideals but are deeply woven into the very fabric of our society," he added.

The chairman said that the battle with corruption in Nigeria needs a collaborative and multi-sectoral approach, adding that he will be engaging with diverse stakeholders including media, other anti-corruption agencies, civil society, the private sector, international partners, and citizens to utilize maximize resources, perspectives and expertise.

He further said that the ICPC is actively enhancing inter-agency collaboration.

"A recent example of this is our recent visit to the EFCC. By uniting forces and sharing resources, we aim to intensify our collective fight against corruption, paving the way for a more transparent and accountable Nigeria. We would be collaborating more with the EFCC, the CCB, and the NFIU," Aliyu added.

He said that innovation is the key to the fight against corruption, as this is the era where technology has revolutionized the way everyone lives and works.

"The ICPC is committed to integrating innovative approaches and cutting-edge technology into our operational framework," he said, adding, "From leveraging data analytics for efficient resource management to employing advanced digital tools for effective corruption detection, technology will be at the forefront of our strategies."